Faith and Miles: Devotions and Reflections for a Runner's Soul Blog Series
"The Glory of God is man fully alive"
-St. Irenaeus
Acknowledgements
Coaches have been monumental in shaping my life, second only to my parents' impact. I am deeply grateful for their unwavering support and guidance. Each of these remarkable individuals recognized potential in me that I struggled to see for myself.
A heartfelt thank you to Ken Springer, Dennis McDonald, Steve Dobosz, Bill Collins, Brian Anderson, John Buck, Marshall Clark, and Steve McConkey. Your mentorship has been the cornerstone of my journey, igniting my passion to help others discover their own God-given potential. The lessons you've taught me have left an indelible mark that continues to guide me.
In my 30s, I was privileged to cross paths with Ross Perot. His willingness to share his time and insights while I worked alongside him in the Paralympic Movement was nothing short of inspirational. I learned immensely just by listening and engaging in thoughtful discussions during our meetings. His faith in our team to spearhead positive change within the Paralympic community led to remarkable advancements for individuals with disabilities, and I remain thankful for the wisdom he shared.
As a young man, I had the fortune of learning from author James Galen, whose insights into project and business leadership were transformative. His mentorship was pivotal in my growth, empowering me to uplift those around me and become a leader myself.
I later had the privilege of learning from some truly remarkable individuals, including Dr. Jack Daniels, Peter Thompson, Brother Colm O’Connell, and Dr. Joe Vigil. Each of their unique insights and training philosophies has profoundly shaped my coaching career in ways I never imagined possible.
I'm also deeply grateful to the dedicated team of Diana Roberts, Anna Brooks-Thomas, Rich Brown, Lucas Graham, my wonderful wife Julie Weber, and the Human Body Works crew. Your unwavering commitment to strength training, athletic training, and injury prevention has been instrumental in helping our student-athletes excel and stay safe. Together, we’ve built a foundation for success that goes beyond the ordinary.
I want to take a moment to celebrate my lifelong friend, Bryan Hoddle. Your steadfast friendship since our teenage years has been a rock for me.
We've navigated countless challenges together, and I cherish every moment of our journey. Despite our contrasting personalities, we balance one another well—a true embodiment of the saying "iron sharpens iron." As two state champions who pushed each other during high school practices, we forged a lifelong bond that continues to inspire us as we tackle the final legs of our life's race.
To my high school teammates, my band of brothers from the University of Montana, Club Northwest, Athletes-in-Action, and the Reebok-Evergreen Harrier team, thank you for the camaraderie and unforgettable memories we created during our running careers. Those experiences have shaped who I am today.
Above all, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for my incredible wife, Julie. Your unwavering love and support have been my anchor through all of life’s highs and lows. You’ve stood by my side, cheering me on through every challenge and triumph in my coaching journey. I am endlessly grateful to have you with me today and always.
Why I’m Writing This Series
Life can often feel like a blur, and many of us rush through it without pausing to reflect on the lessons we've learned along the way. I used to be one of those people until a few years back, when friends encouraged me to share my stories.
Recording our experiences might feel daunting, and we may wonder if they hold any value to others. But I’ve felt God's redemptive touch in my life, and with that motivation, I decided to pen down some of the insights I've gathered throughout my journey. If my experiences can resonate with just one person and inspire change, then every moment spent writing this book will be absolutely worthwhile.
While I can't capture every valuable insight, I want to highlight those pivotal moments and profound truths that have significantly shaped my life—moments that could only have been orchestrated by a loving God. Looking back, I clearly see the threads of mercy and grace woven through each of my experiences.
A significant part of my lifelong learning stems from my journey as both a runner and a coach. Running has been an incredible teacher, and I’ve been blessed to have coaches who selflessly provided invaluable guidance, often without the recognition they deserve. I aim to change that by sharing their impact on my life. These mentors saw me not just as an athlete but as a whole person, supporting my journey while gently nudging me toward growth.
As I embarked on my own coaching journey, I absorbed countless lessons and insights from my running career. One of the most liberating ideas I embraced was that “Jump, and God’s net will appear.” This mantra pushed me to take risks and explore unconventional paths. I quickly learned that true fulfillment comes not from conforming to societal expectations but from chasing the unique story that God has placed in our hearts.
From an early age, I felt a pull to challenge the status quo—not out of arrogance, but from a sincere desire to serve and uplift others. I’ve never measured success by wealth or material gain. There have been moments when I turned down enticing opportunities because I believed that I could create a more positive impact simply by loving and serving others.
Throughout my journey, I strive to develop solutions that uplift lives, even without the so-called "qualifications" society often prizes. Following the less-traveled path has been a choice driven by a vision to help others in ways that resonate deeply within the journey God placed on my heart.
This blog series encourages you to reflect on your own journey over the coming year and to embrace the unique path and potential God has planted within you. Don’t let the end of your life come with the regret of living someone else’s story. Your unique experiences and gifts are more critical than you might realize and far more valuable than you can imagine.
Each small decision we make contributes to meaningful change in the world. Before we leave this earth, let’s commit to understanding our lives more deeply, supporting one another, and growing with every step.
The "Faith and Miles: Devotions for the Runner’s Soul" series unfolds in roughly chronological order, but each story and devotion stand alone, waiting to possibly help you in your own journey.
Discovering What Makes This Book and Blog Series Different
In the upcoming chapters, I am excited to share how running has enriched my career, deepened my spiritual life, and strengthened my relationships. I will provide a brief outline of each powerful lesson in one of the early chapters and illustrate them with real-world examples that have had a significant impact on my life in the rest of the book.
I am pursuing this approach because I have not yet encountered an author who fully conveys how running has transformed their life throughout their lifetime. It is essential to acknowledge the profound impact of our sport in a manner that has not been fully explored.
I hope that by helping people better understand the benefits of running, we can grow our sport, as individuals gain much more than just the fleeting moments of running in their youth; they gain insights and experiences that enrich their lives over a lifetime.
This focus on the benefits of running over a lifetime, as explained in this book, sets this book and blog series apart from others.
Experience Jesus
As you read each chapter, pause to reflect on what you have read. Not taking the time for reflection to think about your reading is a disease of the Internet generation.
Simple sound-bytes and practical information won’t suffice. Stop, pray, reflect, and think deeply about how what I am saying might help you or others; otherwise, my time is wasted.
Move beyond just intellectual belief and embrace what God has in store for you.
Said another way, cultivate a moment-to-moment relationship with Christ as you read with a childlike faith and trust that there is a reason why you are reading the blog series.
Tune out the typical distractions of the digital age and reflect on what God has for you in your life. Put the phone down.
As Saint Augustine said, “Silence is the rest of the soul, and God speaks in the silence."
This embodies Augustine's belief that in moments of quiet contemplation, one can genuinely hear and encounter the presence of God. His writings consistently emphasize the importance of distancing oneself from worldly distractions to pursue divine wisdom.
Blessings to you all,
Coach Weber
Philippians 4:13
The Entire Series is Copyrighted Worldwide, 2025
